Electric cell.



G. SGHAULI.

ELECTRIC CELL.

APPLICATION FILED $3212.18, 1906.

902,173. Patented 001;. 27, 1908.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGES semen, OFLONDON, ENGLAND;

nmcnrcczu.

Specification .9! Letter mum.

, Application filedfleptember 1a, 1906. in. 335,001.

England, have invented new and useful In1-- provements in ElectricCells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved a construction of electric cell inwhich the destructible negative-pole electrode, consisting of a metalsuch as zinc has a laminated composition the components of which are' sodisposed relatively to the electrolyte that one or morelayers areinitially held in reserve, isolated from electro-chemical action, areserve layer being adapted to automatically come into active operationwhen the electrolyte has eifected the penetration of the isolatinglayer.

A further advanta eous feature of this invention consists in t e meansfor augmentin the area of initial electro-chemical action.

0 obtain the above described effects I provide a liquid-tight vesselmade of zinc trode- I give it aiperforated lining composed or othermetal suitable to act as the negative-pole electrode of, an electriccell and to augment the} area of activity of this elecelectrode beingsurrounded by a suitable depolarizing agent and between the twoelectrodes is interposed a suitable electrolyte as for exampleammonium-chlorid.

The electrolyte may contain inert substances mixed with the activeelectrolyte, adapted to form therewith a semi-solid substance and holdmoisture in suspension causing the cell to be a so-called dry cell fromwhich the moisture will'not drain away by mere gravity.

To obtain a renewal of active life after chemical action has takenplace. to such a degree as to cause the formation of a hole in thevessel, through which liquid can exude', I surround the Vessel with alayer of' liquid absorbing material such as'filter or blotting paper,which layer may have been saturated with the active agent of theelectrolyte and afterwards dried, or alternatively this porous absorbentlayer may be free from such electrolyte. Outside this porous-layer Iprovide a second sheet of zinc or other metal like that of which theinterior vessel is composed, and this may be succeeded by a furtherporous layer and a further sheet of the like metal, the whole beingcontained in a liquid-tight insulating case.

The interior vessel and the surrounding sheet or sheets of metal are, ator'neartheir upper edges, electro-metallically united, and

oined to the negative terminal of the cell.

A cell as abovedescribed, especially if it is a dry cell, is adapted tobe rechar ed by a reversed electric current derived min a suitablesource.

A convenient and advantageous form for thenegative electrode vessel isthat of a flatended c 'linder.

- On e accompanying-drawing is a sectional elevation of a form ofconstruction of 7 an electric cell made in accordance with the abovedescribed invention in which a single reserve plate is provided. 7

In" this drawingl is a li uid-ti ht vessel made of zinc. orother metasuita le to operate as a negative-pole electrode. 2 is a perforatedvessel made of the same'metal, the exterior surface of which closelyfits the interior surfaceof 1 and may be soldered thereto. v

3-is an envelop which closelyffits the .exterior surface of 1, whichenvelop is com posed of rous liquid-absorbing material, such as b ottingor filter paper. The 'envelops of the vessel 1 is closely surrounded bya sleeve 4 composed of the same metal as 1. The whole is inclosed withina liquidtight case 5 composed of insulating material.

The positive-pole electrode 6 is surrounded .by a depolarizing substance7 inclosed with in a porous falirxcJS and the space between this latterandthe surface of the perforated vessel contains the electrolyte 9 whichmay be intermixed with inert material forming patented a. 2?, 190a.

a semiesolid mass adapted to holdthe liquid electrolyte in suspension ina manner to prevent it from drainingaway under the action ofgravity-merely, and yet the force of capillary attraction, which willcome into existence, when the vessel 1 has been penetrated byelectro-chemical action, will cause the porous envelop 3 to becomemoistened by the liquid electrolyte. The: negative-pole terminal iselectro-metallically united to the vessel 1 and to the sleeve 5 at 10and 11 respectively.

1 2 is a layer of 'inert particles such asfinely divided glass throughwhich any gases which may be generated in the cell will be able to findmeans of escape. this is placed a layer of absorbent material 13 such aspeat, or peat moss, and the cell is sealed by a layer of fusiblesubstance 14 v such as pitch and rubber or sulfur and tar,

a vent pipe 15 having .its lower end immersed 1n the layer 12 beingprovided to allow gases to escape and preclude the accumulation ofpressure within the cell.

16 indicates a means of attachment of an electric lead to the positivepoleelectrode,

17 is a disk made of the same metal as 1,

2'and 4; and is-a supplement to the sleeve 4,v

and 18 is an insulating carrier adapted to arizing su stance. claim. 1.An electric cell comprising a negativepole electrode composed ofmetallic plates support the ositive-pole electrode and depo i separatedby an intervening layer of porous, I liquid absorbing material incontact with z the adjacent surfaces of both plates, the arrangementbeing such that the electrolyte comesinitially into contact with oneplate only but, on the enetration thereof by electro-chemical action,the electrolyte has access'to 'the second plate at the portion of itssurface adjacent to the place of penetration of the first.

2. 'An electric cell comprising a negativepole electrode composedof'metallic plates both of' which arein metallic connection with theattachment for the return lead of the electric circuit to the cell, theplates being separated by an intervening layer of tration of the first.

, 3. An electric eellcomprising a negatlvepole electrode composedofnletallic plates separated by an intervening layer of porous,

liquid absorbing material lmpregnated with electrolytic re-agents in adry and inert condition which porous layer is in contact with theadjacent surfaces. of. both plates, the arrangement being such that theelectrolyte comes initially NICO. contact with one plate only but, onthe penetration thereof by electro-chemical action, the electrolyte hasac.

cess to the second plate at the portion of its surface adjacent to theplace of penetration of the first. v

V 4. A form of construction of electrode for an electric cell in whichthe metallic plate, with which the electrolyte comes in contact, is acompound plate composed of a continuous fluid tight plate and aperforated plate in metallic contact therewith throughout the entirearea-of one surface of the perforated plates.

In testimony whereof lahave signed my nameto thisspecification en'thepresence of two subscribmg witnesses.

GEORGES SCHAULL.

Witnesses:

H. D. JAMEsoN, F. L. RANns.

